Are Polaroids Back For Good? We Only Have Hipsters To Thank

Being a ‘hipster’, as it is so termed, appears to have connotations with a love for old-world goods and media – as well as an affinity for vintage clothing, gigantic beards and a healthy appreciation for all things kitsch. The rise of the hipster in the West has allowed for many big names in clothing, technology and entertainment to think ‘backwards’ about going forwards. Nostalgia is still a huge, bankable asset to companies all over the world – but the West, with young people in their 30s having grown up in the multicolor 90s, it seems that the bygone memory tap is on a constant flow.

Many people go even further back for their fix of retro flavours and fashion. Polaroid – who many will remember as a leading light in photography for decades – have announced that they will be rereleasing their celebrated and iconic OneStep camera – originally reaching shutterbugs way back in 1977. To celebrate the camera’s 40th birthday, it seems, hipsters everywhere can now enjoy the thrill of instant photography all over again – with genuine film to boot.

For many photographers, digital technology has only done so much – on the one hand, we are now able to enjoy incredible high-definition shots of the world around us – on an instant basis. However, gone are the days of feeling that classic ‘click’ when you take a picture – or have to rewind a film and having it developed – the mainstream digital photo boom effectively rendered Kodak rather helpless – and while both they and Polaroid have continued ticking over in the background, their heyday of leading the photography market is a distant memory.

The Polaroid OneStep was famous for its super-fast, instant processing. Take a picture, print it, shake it and wait a few minutes for it to develop – 40 years ago, it was the closest anyone had to instant photography. The firm will be looking for around $150 for their reimagined instant camera upon its release this fall – and while it may not rely upon a handful of batteries like the cameras of old, it will provide you with minimal digital convenience to make things easier – meaning yes, you can still charge up via USB – and you’ll even be able to time your photos, too. Hipsters and lovers of retro everywhere, rejoice – could the old school instant camera be making a solid comeback?